The mayor of Vardø, Tor-Erik Labahå, has proposed the removal of three partisan monuments in the municipality, claiming they are being misused by Russian sympathizers.

These monuments, erected between 2011 and 2019 to honor local resistance fighters during World War II, have drawn criticism from historians and local officials.

Professor Mads Andenæs argues that removing the monuments would rewrite history and diminish the contributions of the resistance fighters.

In contrast, Professor Kari Aga Myklebost supports the mayor's stance, stating that the monuments serve Russian propaganda purposes.

The debate highlights a clash between historical recognition and contemporary political sentiments, as local authorities navigate the complexities of memorialization in a changing geopolitical landscape.